Sunrider Int'l of US sets up herbal facility in Gurgaon

TNNNov 16, 2003, 11.10pm IST

NEW DELHI: US-based direct selling company Sunrider International has set up its Indian manufacturing facility in Gurgaon to churn out herbal products. Tei Fu Chen, founder and chairman of the $700 million entity, addressing mediapersons in the capital said that he expects the Indian operations to make more than $100 million in sales annually in the next five years.

The California headquartered company is into the business of health and beauty herbal products and has been sourcing herbs from India for its other seven global manufacturing facilities which are expected to increase in the future. The Gurgaon factory is however, being customised to meet only the domestic needs and the company is planning to start production of cosmetics in the second phase of expansion in a couple of years. Sunrider, which entered India four years back with a wholly owned subsidiary, has had a minimal presence in the Indian market as of date but the global chairman is bullish on India.

"With our new factory we are the only direct selling company manufacturing in India. Sunrider is here not just to sell products but to help people make money. We want to put our roots in India," said Mr Chen. Sunrider is not manufacturing its cosmetics range in Gurgaon even though it is selling its products after importing it.